Piano Care

Simple guidelines for taking care of a piano

There are a few simple things that can be done to ensure a piano stays in good condition, and remains in tune for a reasonable length of time. As a pianist, and someone who takes music and the care of musical instruments very seriously, I’ve produced the following basic guidelines.

In addition to the case, many of the moving parts inside a piano are made of wood. Wood is very susceptible to temperature change, humidity, and dryness, all of which affect the condition of a piano, therefore:

Avoid placing a piano against an outside wall.

Don’t place a piano in front of a radiator or fire.

Don’t place a piano in direct sunlight (use curtains to provide shade).

Avoid subjecting a piano to extremes of temperature.

Don’t bring liquids close to a piano (this includes placing mugs of tea or coffee, soft drinks, or goldfish bowls, on top). Liquids falling into a piano can cause serious damage to the mechanism.

A few guidelines concerning playing a piano:

Use only fingers to play the piano, not fists, elbows, feet, or any other object.

Even when using fingers don’t bang the keys down hard. Always play musically.

Don’t attempt to lift the piano keys upwards.

A few words on cleaning:

A slightly damp cloth can be used to clean the keyboard.

Do not use any detergents or abrasives on any part of the piano.

Experts recommend that you don’t use regular furniture polish for cleaning the wooden case of pianos! Some pianos have a polymer finish and others have lacquer. Using the wrong cleaning product can ruin the finish. Take advice from a piano technician as to what product to use.

Some final dos and don’ts:

Don’t attempt to repair a piano yourself, ask a skilled piano technician who will have the special tools and know- how needed.

Have the piano tuned regularly, that is at least twice a year.

Don’t attempt to tune a piano yourself. You will most likely make the tuning worse – I know, I once tried!

Pianos are heavy. Take great care when moving one.

Use professional piano movers when moving house. If not, expect to have a few scratches on your instrument when it arrives at your new home…or worse! Moving a piano is a specialist job and requires more than just muscle.

I lament when I see a piano abused or not looked after, sometimes simply through ignorance. Following the above guidelines will help keep your piano in good condition. Properly taken care of a piano can last more than a lifetime!